The MVM'73 Mercury flyby mission will initiate exploration of this unique planet. No firm plans for follow-on investigations have materialized due to the difficult performance requirements of the next logical step, an orbiter mission. Previous investigations of ballistic mode flight opportunities have indicated requirements for a Saturn V class launch vehicle. Consequently, most recent effort has been oriented to use of solar electric propulsion. More comprehensive study of the ballistic flight mode utilizing Venus gravity-assist has resulted in identification of timely high-performance mission opportunities compatible with programmed launch vehicles and conventional spacecraft propulsion technologies. A likely candidate for an initial orbiter mission is a 1980 opportunity which offers net orbiter spacecraft mass of about 435 kg with the Titan IIIE/Centaur launch vehicle and single stage solid propulsion for orbit insertion.


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    Title :

    Ballistic mode Mercury orbiter missions.


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Joint Space Mission Planning and Execution Meeting ; 1973 ; Denver, CO


    Publication date :

    1973-07-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :


    Ballistic mode Mercury orbiter missions

    HOLLENBECK, G. | AIAA | 1973



    Study of Ballistic Mode Mercury Orbiter Missions. Volume 2: Technical Report

    W. S. Cook / G. R. Hollenbeck / P. S. Lewis et al. | NTIS | 1973


    Study of ballistic mode Mercury Orbiter missions. Volume 2: Technical report

    Cook, W. S. / Hollenbeck, G. R. / Lewis, P. S. et al. | NTRS | 1973